[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah ] “Bukangi,” the black shark that has been residing in the artificial waterway at Busan’s North Port Waterfront Park and has attracted over 1 million visitors. It appears that more people believe the government should allow “Bukang-i”—which has given citizens special memories—to remain in the waterway as it is now, rather than forcibly returning it to the ocean. However, as injuries to its snout have been confirmed and concerns about water temperature changes have been raised, there are calls to carefully consider both Bukang-i’s health and its return to the wild.

According to “Trend Compass: The Bukang-i Edition,” released on the 9th by Team Brains, an edutech company specializing in early childhood education, and the public relations firm Dongseonambuk, 71% of the 381 respondents who participated in an online survey from the 1st to the 7th answered that Bukang-i “should be left alone.” The response rate for “they should be rescued”—meaning the government should intervene and return them to the sea—was 29%.

The reasoning is that since the fish swam into the artificial waterway on their own—drawn by abundant food sources such as mullet and sardines and warm water temperatures—it is best for them to return to the wild naturally rather than risk injury through artificial rescue efforts.

However, as the Bukkani has remained trapped in the artificial waterway for an extended period, concerns about its health are growing.

The pu-kang-i has been staying in the artificial waterway at Busan North Port Waterfront Park for over three weeks since it was discovered there on the 18th of last month. Authorities have conducted two attempts to guide it back to the ocean, but both failed. On the 2nd, they used a specially designed net to guide it to a point about 100 meters from the waterway’s exit, but the pu-kang-i returned to the waterway the next day.

Signs of health issues have also emerged. During an on-site monitoring session on the 7th, the National Institute of Fisheries Science confirmed abrasions around the dugong’s snout. Officials are investigating the possibility that the dugong collided with canal structures while abruptly changing direction, startled by strong flashlight beams from visitors at night.

It is currently understood that the injury does not significantly affect the dugong’s health. However, since the risk of infection could increase if the injury worsens or recurs, continuous observation is necessary.

The National Institute of Fisheries Science is using drones and other tools to monitor the black shark’s movements and swimming speed. Its current swimming speed is approximately 5 km/h, and it has been determined that there has been no significant change compared to when it was first discovered. Although the current water temperature in the canal is 23.5 degrees, the Institute assesses that if the temperature drops below 18 degrees, the environment could become unsuitable for the black shark to remain. Authorities plan to comprehensively assess its habitat—including its injuries, swimming condition, and water temperature—to determine whether further guidance is necessary.

When asked what message they would like to convey to Bukang-i, “I’m incredibly grateful” was the most common response at 42%. This expresses gratitude for Bukang-i’s visit and the precious memories it gave the children. This was followed by “Now, go away quickly” (29%), “I’m really sorry” (16%), and “Are you eating enough?” (10%). Other responses accounted for 3%. These responses reflected a mix of gratitude for the memories Bukang created, a hope that it would return to the ocean healthy, feelings of regret over changes in the marine environment, and concern about whether it was getting enough to eat.

The influx of visitors eager to see the “Bukang-i” has also breathed new life into local tourism. As of 6:00 p.m. on the 5th, the cumulative number of visitors to North Port Waterfront Park stood at 1,015,800. Daesun Brewery, a local Busan company, even released a limited-edition soju featuring the “Bukang-i.”

It is clear that the “Bukang-i” has become a local attraction that brings joy to people. However, given that it has been staying in the artificial waterway for an extended period and has even sustained injuries, we must continue to assess whether allowing it to remain there as it is currently is the best course of action. While we must be cautious of the possibility that a forced rescue could cause further injury, considering the “Bukang-i’s” health and natural habitat, wouldn’t it ultimately be preferable to facilitate its return to the ocean, where it naturally belongs?